Ken Johnston
The Rainy River Cattlemen’s Association held its annual yearling sale on Saturday, with 1,001 animals being sold at the Stratton sales barn.
“It is a feeder sale but sort of known as our yearling sale,” noted Kim Jo Bliss of the RRCA.
There were 878 yearlings, 100 cull cows and bulls, 50 calves, and three sheep sold for a total of $1,033,616.06.
While there have been reports of U.S. cattlemen dumping animals on the market to account for the expensive feed due to a drought there, Bliss said local farmers have not seen any impact here yet.
“[But] I am thinking that we will see this by the end of the season,” she warned. “The high cost of grain will impact what we do with our cattle first.
“If grain is high, people won’t be feeding calves over the winter, etc.”
Bliss said there have been previous seasons where there’s been extra hay, so that likely will keep most producers through the season.
But the grain/corn cost for calves will determine if similar dumping of animals occurs locally.
Meanwhile, the next sale to be held at the Stratton sales barn will have a new twist—it will be carried live on the Internet on Saturday, Sept. 29.
“This is the first time we will be doing an Internet sale!” enthused Bliss.
“We did run satellite sales many years ago [and] it can be very successful.
“We are hoping to have more buyers bidding without having to travel to the sale,” she added.
It was promoted at this past weekend’s sale and Bliss said there seems to be interest in it already, with people requesting a catalogue.
“It is exciting and scary–both!” she said Monday.
